Indirect Excitons

【非技术摘要】该个人研究者奖支持一项针对半导体薄层结构的基本光学和电子特性的实验研究项目。在十亿分之一米的长度尺度上，一种特殊的结构设计允许创造新的准粒子，称为间接激子。间接激子是独特的，因为它们可以冷却到超低温。此外，间接激子是独特的，因为它们可以像电子设备中的电子一样被电子控制，并且可以发射光信号。该项目旨在增加我们对超冷间接激子物理学的理解。通过这项研究获得的理解可能会导致开发利用电子和光学性质的先进设备（即光电设备）的令人兴奋的可能性。本科生和研究生将参与该项目，并将有机会对当代物理学的前沿进行研究。他们接受的培训将为他们在全国高科技行业的就业做好准备。技术摘要：该个人研究者奖支持一个项目，该项目旨在对耦合量子阱半导体结构中的冷间接激子和冷电子空穴等离子体进行实验研究。间接激子是由限制在空间分离的量子阱层中的电子和空穴形成的。间接激子由于寿命长，可以冷却到量子简并温度以下。这为研究冷激子提供了机会。由于它们的寿命长，间接激子在重组之前可以传播很远的距离。这为研究激子输运提供了机会。此外，间接激子是偶极子，其能量可以由电压控制。这为间接激子创造了各种潜在的景观，并将它们用作研究冷激子的工具——材料中的冷复合玻色子。研究内容包括基本介观器件-量子点接触中的冷间接激子输运，以及分离电子和空穴层中的冷电子空穴等离子体。研究由学生完成，并与教育相结合。该项目的潜在影响是发展凝聚态物理知识，增加对材料光学和电子特性的基本理解。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

NON-TECHNICAL ABSTRACTThis individual investigator award supports a project directed towards experimental studies of fundamental optical and electronic properties of structures made of thin layers of semiconductors. A special design of the structures on a length scale of a billionth part of a meter allows the creation of new quasi-particles called indirect excitons. The indirect excitons are unique because they can be cooled down to ultralow temperatures. Furthermore, the indirect excitons are unique because they can be electronically controlled like electrons in electronic devices and can emit optical signals. The project is directed towards increasing our understanding of the physics of ultracold indirect excitons. The understanding gained through this research may lead to the exciting possibility of developing advanced devices that make use of electronic as well as optical properties, i.e. optoelectronic devices. Undergraduate and graduate students will be involved in this project and will have the opportunity to perform research on the cutting edge of contemporary physics. The training they receive will prepare them for employment in high-tech industries across the nation.TECHNICAL ABSTRACTThis individual investigator award supports a project directed towards experimental studies of cold indirect excitons and cold electron-hole plasma in coupled quantum well semiconductor structures. Indirect excitons are formed by electrons and holes confined in spatially separated quantum well layers. Due to their long lifetime, indirect excitons can cool below the temperature of quantum degeneracy. This gives an opportunity to study cold excitons. Due to their long lifetime, indirect excitons can travel over large distances before recombination. This gives an opportunity to study exciton transport. Furthermore, indirect excitons are dipoles and their energy can be controlled by voltage. This gives an opportunity to create a variety of potential landscapes for indirect excitons and use them as a tool for studying cold excitons – cold composite bosons in materials. Studies include transport of cold indirect excitons in basic mesoscopic devices – quantum point contacts, and cold electron hole plasma in separated electron and hole layers. The research is performed by students and is integrated with education. The potential impact of the project is in development of knowledge in condensed matter physics and increase of fundamental understanding of optical and electronic properties of materials.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.